Optimization of control parameters for a particle irradiation system

Abstract

A device for determining control parameters for a particle irradiation system that deposits different dose values at different target points in a target volume through the selection of sampling points by a particle beam is provided. The device includes an input for receiving information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points, and a determination component for determining a particle number distribution that is to be deposited during the irradiation via sampling points. The determining takes place using the predefined dose distribution and a variable, which takes into account differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for determining control parameters for a particle irradiation system, the particle irradiation system being configured to dispose different dose values at different sampling points in a target volume, the target volume comprising a plurality of isoenergy layers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers being associated with a different particle beam energy, the device comprising:
 an input operable to receive information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points; and 
 a determination component operable to determine a particle number distribution to be deposited during an irradiation via sampling points, 
 wherein the determination component is configured to determine the particle number distribution using the predefined dose distribution and a variable taking differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points associated with the same isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers into account, with the variable, the different sampling points being compared in terms of corresponding article numbers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers characterizing a penetration depth of particles having the associated particle beam energy. 
 
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable takes differences between particle numbers of all sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy, into account. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable includes a scatter of particle numbers of different sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable comprises a variance of particle numbers of different sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable comprises a value range of particle numbers of different sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable comprises a maximum difference of particle numbers of all sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable comprises a ratio between a highest and a lowest particle number of all sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the determination component is operable to determine the particle number distribution through optimization of a cost function, and
 wherein the cost function comprises a first term relating to the predefined dose distribution and a second term relating to the variable. 
 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cost function further comprises a predefinable parameter for relative weighting of the first term compared to the second term. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the optimization of the cost function optimizes the particle number distribution with respect to the predefined dose distribution and an irradiation duration. 
     
     
       11. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the variable includes a scatter of particle numbers of different sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       12. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the variable comprises a variance of particle numbers of different sampling points, which, according to the particle number distribution, are to be irradiated with particles of the same energy. 
     
     
       13. The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the determination component is operable to determine the particle number distribution through optimization of a cost function, and
 wherein the cost function comprises a first term relating to the predefined dose distribution and a second term relating to the variable. 
 
     
     
       14. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein with the variable, the different sampling points are compared in relation to each other in terms of the corresponding particle numbers. 
     
     
       15. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the comparison comprises a mathematical difference. 
     
     
       16. A particle irradiation system configured to dispose different dose values at different sampling points in a target volume, the target volume comprising a plurality of isoenergy layers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers being associated with a different particle beam energy, the particle irradiation system comprising:
 a device operable to determine control parameters, the device comprising:
 an input operable to receive information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points; and 
 a determination component operable to determine a particle number distribution to be deposited during an irradiation via sampling points, 
 
 wherein the determination component is configured to determine the particle number distribution using the predefined dose distribution and a variable taking differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points associated with the same isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers into account, with the variable, the different sampling points being compared in terms of corresponding particle numbers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers characterizing a penetration depth of particles having the associated particle beam energy. 
 
     
     
       17. A method for determining control parameters for a particle irradiation system, the method comprising:
 receiving information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points; and 
 determining, using a processor, a particle number distribution to be deposited during the irradiation via sampling points in a target volume, the target volume comprising a plurality of isoenergy layers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers being associated with a different particle beam energy, 
 wherein the determining comprises using the predefined dose distribution and a variable taking differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points associated with the same isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers into account, with the variable, the different sampling points being compared in terms of corresponding particle numbers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers characterizing a penetration depth of particles having the associated particle beam energy. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for irradiating a target volume with particles using control parameters to control a particle irradiation system, the method comprising:
 determining the control parameters, the determining comprising:
 receiving information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points; 
 determining, using a processor, a particle number distribution to be deposited during the irradiation via sampling points in a target volume, the target volume comprising a plurality of isoenergy layers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers being associated with a different particle beam energy; and 
 using the predefined dose distribution and a variable taking differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points associated with the same isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers into account, with the variable, the different sampling points being compared in terms of corresponding particle numbers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers characterizing a penetration depth of particles having the associated particle beam energy. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the target volume comprises at least a sub-region of a non-living body for the purpose of verifying an irradiation plan. 
     
     
       20. In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein data representing code executable by a programmed computer for determining control parameters for a particle irradiation system, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
 receiving information relating to a predefined dose distribution via target points; and 
 determining a particle number distribution to be deposited during the irradiation via sampling points in a target volume, the target volume comprising a plurality of isoenergy layers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers being associated with a different particle beam energy, 
 wherein the determining comprises using the predefined dose distribution and a variable taking differences in the particle number distribution between particle numbers of different sampling points associated with the same isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers into account, with the variable, the different sampling points being compared in terms of corresponding particle numbers, each isoenergy layer of the plurality of isoenergy layers characterizing a penetration depth of particles having the associated particle beam energy.